Warmed-plate suyuk for two at a Gangnam pork soup spot: Sinju Okmi

I recently heard that a proper new gukbap (Korean soup with rice) restaurant had opened near Gangnam Station — an area packed with office workers — where they boil domestically sourced pork slaughtered that same day, an impressive four times a day. On top of that, their signature dish is a unique nourishing bracken fern sundaeguk, loaded with bracken fern, sometimes called "beef of the mountains." It seemed like the perfect combination for my gukbap-obsessed husband and me, since I love clean, savory namul (seasoned vegetable) dishes, so we headed over without hesitation. Here's my vivid review of Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch, the talked-about Gangnam Station sundaeguk restaurant known for its extra care and deep flavor!

Where is Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch, and what are the hours and parking?

Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch is located at 21 Teheran-ro 10-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and operates 24 hours a day, every day. It's 477m from Exit 3 of Gangnam Station and also walkable from Exit 3 of Yeoksam Station.

• Address: 21 Teheran-ro 10-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Transit: 477m from Exit 3 of Gangnam Station (Line 2 / Sinbundang Line). Also easily walkable from Exit 3 of Yeoksam Station
• Hours: Open 24 hours, every day (until 23:00 on Sundays / opens 10:30 on Mondays)
• Break time: None
• Parking: On-site parking available (free). Valet ₩3,000 from 15:00–23:00, free valet at other times
• Facilities: Group-friendly, separate men's/women's restrooms, paid corkage available (₩20,000 per bottle, no drink restrictions), local currency and mobile payment accepted

Inside Sinju Okmi: hanok-style dining room and the self-serve bar

Walking in, the space was nothing like the rough, greasy old market gukbap joints you might picture. Instead, it had a refined, tidy Korean restaurant feel that showed off the beauty of hanok (traditional Korean house) design. The place was spacious and practically laid out. With so much room to spare, it's an easy pick for office workers' team dinners, after-parties, or just a hearty hangover-curing meal — a real Gangnam Station sundaeguk hotspot.

In the middle of the hall was a neatly arranged self-serve bar. Fresh green chili peppers, sharp onion, diced radish kimchi, fresh kimchi, fragrant chives, and even plenty of thin wheat noodles (somyeon) to add to your soup bowl — it was great being able to grab whatever suited your taste.

What comes in the suyuk set for two at Sinju Okmi?

To eat well, we ordered via tablet: the Myeongin Sundaeguk suyuk set and the special spicy bracken Myeongin Sundaeguk suyuk set.

The first thing to arrive was the suyuk (boiled pork) plate for two, and the generous portion had us gasping in delight. It came neatly arranged by cut — tender lean pork, chewy head meat, fresh liver, and chewy lung — all served on a plate that had been warmed beforehand, so the meat stayed warm and never hardened or cooled throughout the meal. It was incredibly satisfying. True to being boiled the same day, there wasn't a hint of gamey smell, and it was so tender; a little salted shrimp sauce or ssamjang (dipping sauce) on top made the clean, savory flavor explode.

Special spicy bracken Myeongin Sundaeguk: how spicy is it?

Next up, bubbling away as it arrived, the special spicy bracken Myeongin Sundaeguk looked different from the start. It was packed with bracken fern that they say is boiled and sautéed fresh every morning — not the least bit tough, chewing softly and adding a subtle nutty depth to the broth. The rich, thick bone broth combined with a spicy house-made chili paste gave it a deep, refreshing kick, almost like a well-simmered beef yukgaejang (spicy beef soup).

The basic Myeongin Sundaeguk and its handmade sundae

The basic Myeongin Sundaeguk was also excellent, with a milky, deep broth. Freshly boiled pork lined the bottom of the earthenware pot generously, so there was plenty of meat left even by the time we finished our bowl of rice. Adding a heap of chives and perilla seed powder from the self-serve bar, plus a serving of somyeon noodles, made it feel like a truly nourishing, filling meal from head to toe.

The sundae (Korean blood sausage) wasn't the mass-produced glass-noodle kind either — it was handmade, packed with crunchy bean sprouts, blood, and vegetables, giving it a varied and delicious texture.

We also tried adding the somyeon noodles from the self-serve bar. It was our first time trying that combination, and it worked better than expected. Definitely give it a try!

Verdict: is Sinju Okmi worth it for a restorative gukbap near Gangnam Station?

Sinju Okmi Gangnam Branch delivers the warm, honest comfort of the traditional market gukbap you grew up eating, elevated with soft bracken fern and clean suyuk — making it a top-tier Gangnam Station sundaeguk restaurant.

• Fresh suyuk boiled four times a day: even the plate is warmed with care, so every last bite of head meat and offal stays tender and moist.
• Bracken fern meets spicy broth: soft-textured bracken with a rich, sharp broth like yukgaejang, plus hearty handmade sundae.
• Comfortable convenience and 24-hour hours: a spacious, tidy dining room, a self-serve bar with plenty of noodle refills, and convenient parking.

If you want to fill up on a hot bowl of gukbap after a tiring day, or you're looking for restorative soup on another level near Gangnam, I highly recommend a visit!